7 - A Cloacal Exploration

At the urging of Cola, the party (Marco, Rocco, Astore, Fra. Giovanni and Father Arturo) occupy the House of the Crows, change the locks and hire a crew to clean-up and renovate (including disposal of the necromantic detritus of the previous occupant).

After a few days they decide to explore the route by which Caltagirone and his servitor escaped and find themselves in what they deem to the ancient sewers of Rome. They generally explore "upstream", systematically checking the narrow side passages they have hostile encounters with some kind of undead and a horde of vicious rats with a half-human rat-mother.

In a larger tunnel they encounter three rather unsavoury looking ladies, disporting themselves upon a huge pile of detritus upon which there shines a shaft of bright sunlight from above. Led by Rocco, who offers the ladies a flask of wine, they enter into pleasant discourse with them (to notes of disapproval from Father Arturo). They introduce themselves as Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thallia. Upon parting, Aglaia takes a pebble which she reaches up to bathe in the weak sunlight above. She hands it to Rocco who can see that it glows with a steady light. Arturo advises him to throw it away both other voices in the party suggest that this is a useful thing and should be retained. Rocco retains it.

When they later describe the encounter to Cola, he raises an eyebrow. "The Three Graces. How fascinating".